With most of the country mired in cold, and sometimes scary, weather, YeeHaw Junction was not immune. The chill northwest wind kept daily highs in the low sixties for the first two days of the event while evening temps dropped into the forties, somewhat restraining the size of the audience as well as keeping the jammers pretty well bottled up during the after hours, which traditionally have featured jamming into the early morning hours. When the temps rose into the seventies on Saturday and the sun kept shining while the wind reduced to a gentle breeze, a goodly day crowd showed up to join the thawing campers, all of whom enjoyed a really fine final day. Meanwhile, the music was good and the enthusiasm of the mixed crowd of native Floridians and snowbirds kept their enthusiasm high.
A pot luck supper on Wednesday evening, with meat provided by Keith & Darlene Bass has become traditional at YeeHaw Junction. Many people made sure that everyone's favorites were available, as they showed up with the sort of gusto only hungry bluegrassers can show. Warning: Don't be late for a bluegrass pot luck!
Monroe Crossing
Just off the boat from the Danny Stewart Cruise, Monroe Crossing, a Minnesota-based band opened the show at noon on Thursday with their characteristic energy, tunefullness, and musical variety.This band, well known throughout the upper Midwest, deserves much wider recognition. They feature a mix of tunes from old time to much newer material, while never losing touch with their connection Bill Monroe, whose name they honor. Mark Anderson, on bass, is a whirlwind of high energy and skill, while his wife Lisa Fugile on fiddles and vocals has a clear voice coupled with distinctive vocal interpretations. Derek Johnson, new to the band on guitar and lead vocals, is a terrific addition, as is young David Robinson on banjo. Monroe Crossing is very much worth hearing and seeing.
Mark Anderson
David Robinson
Derek Johnson
Lisa Fugile
Matt Thompson
Ernie Evans & the Florida State Bluegrass Band
Ernie Evans is a man of large enthusiasms, ambition, and versatility. His Evans Media Source bills itself as a Full Service Media Production Company, and is just that, offering everything from full festivals through a weekly radio program streamed out of St. Augustine, FL, to weddings and festival appearances in several band combinations. The Florida State Bluegrass Band features everything from traditional bluegrass through swing and some bluegrassed acoustic jazz. When they broke out Fats Waller's 1935 version of Dinah, I could imagine Bill Monroe hearing it as he was seeking his own unique sound and making it his own.
Ernie Evans
Josh Griffin
Billy Swinson
Deb Evans
Ernie welcomed three young and promising guests to the stage on Friday evening. The DiGiovanni sisters, recently moved to Florida from Tennessee, impressed. Look for them around the jams and welcome them in. They'll show you something....
Makayla Hoffman - Age 10
Cara DiGiovanni - Age 14
Frannie DiGiovanni - Age 15
Jerry Butler & the Blu-J's
Veteran bluegrass singer/guitarist Jerry Butler has brought his skills to a number of high profile bands during his career. Jerry Butler &Blu-J's have been together for about four years now, and are maturing into an entertaining and skillful band with this current configuration, unchanged for two years. They work well together, offer an entertaining show, with four musicians who each add distinctive and quality work. Jerry Butler brings a strong bluegrass-country voice with a dead-ringer interpretation of Lester Flatt, which he doesn't overdo. Lanky Barron Rogers on mandolin ably supplements Butler by adding a sly humor to his imposing frame. Derek Vaden on banjo is a fine Scruggs style banjo player as well as finger style guitarist. Lee Chapman is strong on bass and chimes in with good singing. The band offers traditional bluegrass and classic country songs that are always pleasing.
Jerry Butler
Derek Vaden
Lee Chapman
Barron Rogers
Sideline
What do a bunch of veteran bluegrass musicians with a little time on their hands do? They form a band. Sideline started as lark for a bunch of men centered around the Raleigh area in North Carolina. They were playing periodic mid-week gigs and liked what they were doing. A recording ensued, and, despite pretty regular work with their regular bands, they were able to accept a few festival dates, too. How come? Well, it's pretty simple. These guys can flat out deliver traditional bluegrass material the way it's supposed to sound with high energy and full commitment to the audience and their own performance. Darrell Webb singing lead has been a recognized presence in bluegrass for years. Skip Cherryholmes, retired from his family band and married to Steve Dilling's daughter is easing his way back into bluegrass. Jason Moore, from Mountain Heart, is one of bluegrass's go-to bass players for recordings and fill-ins. Steve Dilling, recently retired from IIIrd Tyme Out and now working in the back office for Jordan (Lorraine) Enterprises is still about the best emcee in bluegrass. They can really bring it. See them...if you can!
Steve Dilling
Skip Cherryholmes
Jason Moore
Darrell Webb
Mike Robinson - Emcee
Lee Chapman - Bass Workshop
Derek Vaden - Banjo Workshop
Generations
Generations is a local Florida band which is deeply imbued in Florida's history and commitment to traditional bluegrass. Katie Rogers, the fourth generation of her family to play bluegrass in the state will graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in biology. Her parents LeRon and April can be justly proud of her accomplishment. Bobby Martin is one of the best, and most sought after, banjo players remaining in the state. Ryan Clark is competent on mandolin. If you attend bluegrass festivals in Florida, you'll see and enjoy this band.
Katie Rogers
Ryan Clark
Bobby Martin
LeRon Rogers
April Rogers
Barron Rogers - Workshop
Jerry Butler - Workshop
Jerry Butler
Grasstowne
Grasstowne began its career as a superband composed of three fine individual pickers with quite different styles. Only Alan Bibey remains of the original band, which has been in transition for several years. Bibey, who has been a stylistic leader for a generation on the mandolin, continues the band with two now longtime members, Kameron Keller on bass and Justin Jenkins on banjo. Each is an individual virtuoso whose forte continues to be being part of a team. Alan seems to have been in the business of breaking in young singers who then move on to busier bands. On this trip, veteran singer/guitarist Shannon Slaughter fit into the Grasstowne sound and vibe like a glove while providing his own style. The band was the best its been in a couple of years. Keep your eye on Grasstowne as it continues to evolve and improve.
Alan Bibey
Kameron Keller
Justin Jenkins
Shannon Slaughter
Shane Bartley - Banjo Workshop
Grasstowne Rehearsing
Highway 41 South
Highway 41 South has sharpened its presentation and added to its repertoire, taking even greater advantage of lead singer Jr. Davis's very fine country/bluegrass voice. They've also added new material to their songs and their act, making them more of a complete package while still presenting the bluegrass and classic country covers that have become their popular trademark.
Mark Horn
Donnie Harvey
Jr. Davis
Dave Johnson
Robert Feathers
Keith Bass & the Florida Bluegrass Express
The Florida Bluegrass express specializes in 2nd generation bluegrass material with an emphasis on Country Gentlemen material. They're a solid band which features good singing and instrumental work. Kathy Stewart on bass has shown remarkable improvement.
Keith Bass
Shane Stewart
Jason Baker
Clint Dockery
Kathy Stewart
American Drive
American Drive is also a band which has been in transition since re-organizing after J.D. Crowe's retirement and then, a year later, Rickey Wasson decided to leave the road, too. Adam Macintosh joined the group for the first time this weekend and acquitted himself well, while still learning the band's material. Shayne Bartley is an old trooper on the banjo and provided both backup and solo work in a solid, professional manner, while signalling that this is no longer a banjo-centric band. Dwight McCall on mandolin and vocals, Matt DeSpain on Dobro, and Kyle Perkins on bass have been with the band for several years and provide a strong anchor. The band still has some hills to climb to establish itself as an independant entity, but is working hard to do so.
Adam Macintosh
Dwight McCall
Matt DeSpain
Kyle Perkins
Shayne Barley
On the whole, YeeHaw Junction was a successful outing this year, despite the weather. There's plenty of room for growth on the current site of to move it to somewhere with more amenities. Keith and Darlene Bass are earnest and thoughtful promoters who are working hard to continue building on the foundation they've developed over the past three years. Next year is already shaping up to be an even better year.
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